Finally. It only took 25 episodes for Diane Chambers to wear a truly likeable outfit. No pastels, no ruffles, no lace, no silk, no puff sleeves, not even a pussy bow (a certified Man Repeller) in sight.

Perhaps it can be attributed to the fact that in the finale of Season 1, Sam and Diane finally sealed the deal. Just a wee bit of sex with a man and Diane suddenly realized she wasn’t a virginal pilgrim, and could thus stop dressing like one. A chunky knit sweater, an a-line skirt, a tie belt, deep purples and reds, even a black purse. She let go of her anal-retentive stiffness and got dressed like a normal person. Finally.

Boyfriend jeans don’t look great on those of us with Carla Tortelli’s stature. We 5’3″-ers and below don’t need any help looking short by wearing oversized cuffed pants. Boyfriend shirts, on the other hand, are universally flattering.

Maybe her sleazy ex-husband left it, maybe she found it in the bar’s lost & found. Either way, Carla’s men-at-work tee-shirt look fits her masculine (and emasculating) personality to a tee (pun intended).

Madewell’s Spring 2013 lookbook offers a contemporary take on the Diane uniform while sticking to its core components. The plus? Madewell has found a way to add a bit (a very teeny bit) of sex appeal to the nerdy schoolgirl look.

The best part is that Madewell is now carrying one of my favorite brands, Ace & Jig (dress second from left), which I first discovered at Mira Mira in San Francisco.

Though she appears stiff in comparison to Carla’s loose tongue and tomboyish style, Diane’s wardrobe is a testament to her character and, in a way, bravery. Who of us would continue to wear silk “pussy bow” blouses despite their hideous name (and look)? Who of us would dare wear granny sweater vests and pilgrim shirts?

Sometimes, though, she reeled it in, trading her signature over-the-top prudishness and girliness for a simple silk shirt. Phew.

In the Season 1 finale, Diane takes off with Sam’s wunderkind brother, Derek. Understandably, it incites Sam’s jealous side:

Diane: Derek wants to fly me out to Martha’s vineyard tonight.Sam: On a plane or on his back?

So when Diane goes for Derek, Sam does what he always does in emotional turmoil. Makes a late-night call to a dependable understudy.

Debbie slips quietly into the bar after closing time with long eyelashes, a killer body, and an easygoing (emphasis on easy) attitude:

Sam: Hi Debbie. Boy am I glad you could make it tonight. I didn’t feel like being alone tonight.Debbie: Well it really isn’t very fair of you to call me at the last minute like that. It’s a good thing my boyfriend’s a heavy sleeper.